Coffee percolator



March 16, 1943.

J. M MENAMIN COFFEE PERGOLATOR Filed Feb. 17, 1940 INVENTOK. JOSEPH Mafia/mm! ATTORNEY;

the following description.

Patented Mar-.16, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE conrsnrnndomron Joseph McMenamin, Philadelphia, Pa. Application February 11, 1940, Serial No. 319,551

11 Claims.

Thi invention relates to coffee percolators and, more particularly, to mechanism by which the coffee grounds may be quickly and efllciently removed from the percolato after the percolaton has been used to brew coflee.

, In oonventional types of percolators, hot water is forced upwardly through a liquid delivery tube.=.and is permitted-to percolate downwardly through coffee contained in a receptacle or basketsupported by the liquid delivery tube. After the percolator has been used to brew coffee, the coffee grounds remaining in the receptacle are in a wetland sodden condition and usually packed intonsubstantially solid mass making the removal of the coiIee grounds rather dimcult. In order to 'loosen and remove grounds from the receptacle, it is frequently found necessary to Jar and shake the basket or receptacle before the removal of the coffee grounds can be ef- ,fected.- In addition to the undesirable trouble incident to eifecting the removal or the grounds, the force used in jarring and shaking the receptacle usually damages the percolator unit and will in the course of time render the unit unfit for further use.

- The principal object of this invention is to provide a percolator unit which will permit the removal of used coffee grounds from the receptacle in a facile manne A further object is to provide an annular flange receptacle within the bottom of the coffee receptacle of the percolator unit witha handle a member extending above the level of the recep- I taele by which the flangemay be manually re-" moved from the receptacle together with the coifee grounds therein.

' liquid delivery tube with an annular flange of the character referred, to which is fixed with respect to the delivery tube thereby enabling the unit to the liquid delivery tube.

Referring to Figure 1, the numeral 1 indicates Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of. a coflee'grounds removing device adaptable for use in various types of coffee per-' .colating units.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the device'illustrated in Figure 4.

' Iliigure 61s an illlpstration'of a spring clip used percolator for releasably securing parts of the avcoifee pot having a percolator unit, indicated as a whole by the numeral I, mounted therein. The percolator unit comprises a liquid delivery tube 3 supported by a steam dome l resting on the bottom of the coflee pot I. A receptacle or basket 5 is secured to the upper end of the liquid delivery tube l and provides an annular space 6 around the tube 3 for the reception of coffee grounds through which the liquid may percolate. a g

The parts thus far described comprise the conventional type of coffee percolating apparatus in which hot liquid may enter the steam dome 4 through openings 1 to be forced upward-g coffee grounds placed therein, and out of the bottom of the basket 5, the bottom of the basket being provided with a plurality of perforations 8 permitting the exit of the cofl'ee therefrom.

coflee grounds to be ejected from the coffee receptacle relative tothe liquid delivery tube and the annular flange ailixed thereto.

Other objects and advantages ofthe i'nven tion will become apparent during the course of ceptacle'by causing sliding movement of the re- After brewing coflee, the cofiee grounds in the space 6- within the basket 5 will be in a substantially sodden solid mass. Io-remove the wet coffee grounds, the customary practise is to take the entire unit! out of the coffee pot I andloosen the wise ground by tapping the basket 5. The percolating units are of necessity made of comparatively light materials, and :it will be apparent that pounding on the receptacle 5 will eventually cause damage to the percolating unit.

In some cases. the grounds are packed so ceptacle 5, after the percolator has been used loosened,.cleaning of the percolator unit is rendered dimcult by reason of the fact that some of the grounds tend to cling to the interior of the coffee receptacle or basket. Such grounds are usually removed by placing the receptacle under a water hydrant and using the force of the water to wash the clinging grounds from the receptacle thereby causing the grounds to be splashed all-over the sink intowhich the water is flowing,

In order to provide an eiflcient and clean method of removing coilee grounds from the receptacle 5, the receptacle is provided with an annular flange or ejector element 9 substantially covering the bottom ill of the basket 5. A sleeve ll surrounding the liquid delivery tube 3 i integrally secured to the inner edge 12 of-the anadjacent the top of the liquid delivery tube 3.

2o nular flange '9- and extends upwardly to a point The sleeve II is removably positioned with re-' spect to the tube 3 and is provided with an enlarged portion vI'ia formed at the upper end.

thereof providing a-handle which may be grasped manually for imparting an upward movement to the sleeve II and flange 9. The basket 5 being secured to the tube 3, it will be apparent that the upward movement of the flange 9 will carry with it the coflee grounds remaining in the reto make cofiee.

Since the flange 9 substantially covers the bottom of the basket 5, it will be apparent that the coffee grounds will be completely removed from the receptacle 5 by the removal of the flange 9.

In Figures 4 and 5, there is illustrated a momfled form of a contractable and expansible device for removing coffee grounds which is adjustable ing units. In this construction,

'tovdifierent positions to fit various size coflee receptacles used in conventional type percolatthe sleeve ii :and projecting handle l2a is provided with a plurality of resilient members l3 angularly inclined outwardly with respect to the sleeve Ii. 1

Each of the resilient members I3 is provided with sector-shaped lifting members It integrally secured to the lower edge thereof. As best shown in Figure 5, the combined sector-shaped m-embers l4 provide a substantially annular lifting member similar to the unbroken annular flange 9.

The resilient members l3 and integral sectors l4 are spaced from each other to permit movement of the circular edges [5 inwardly from the position shown in Figures 4 and 5. The resilient.

members "l3 are provided with a plurality of grooves I6 for the reception of an adjusting ring II. By movement of the ring 'I'I in to diflerent grooves l6, it will be apparent that the outer edges I5 of the sectors it may be adjusted to diiferent positions for engagement with the side walls of various sized receptacles 5.

" the bottom thereof and Returning to Figure 2, the with an integral sleeve l8 integrally secured to slidably engageablewith the outer wall of the tube 3. A circular groove i9 is formed in the outer surface of the tube 3 and a corresponding groove 20 facing the groove-- i9 is. formed on the inner faceof the sleeve l8. A split resilient ring 2!, illustrated in Figure 6, is adapted to lie partially in both the grooves 19 and 29 for releasably holding the basket 5 in a fixed position with respect to the tube 3. T e

flange 9 and integral annular sleeve may also be releasably secured to the tube 3 by a resilient locking ring 2|, cooperating grooves 22 and 23 respectively similar to the' grooves l9 and 20 being provided in the tube 3 and sleeve ii, forthis purpose. A pin 24 may be provided on the sleeve II for engagement in an L-shaped slot 25 formed in the'upper end of the tube 3 for positivelylocking the sleeve II in a flxed position with respectto the tube 3. In order -to prevent movement of the sleeve ll downwardly from the position shown in Figure 2, an abutment 26 may be formed at the upper end thereof for engagement basket 5 and in the annular flange 9. In order. to permit free flow of liquid through the annular flange 9 and bottom III, the annular flange 9 is provided with depending portions 23 providing legs spacing the flange 9 from the bottom of the basket. To prevent flne particles of coiIee grounds from passing through the: perforations in the flange 9 and bottom l0, an annular filter element 29 may be positioned on the upper surface by the flange 9. The opening in the annular filter element 29 must be of suflicient size to clear the handle i2a on the sleeve H and in order that the filter element will completely cover the flange 9, the sleeve II is enlarged as at 30 so as to abut against the edge of the opening in the filter element 29. The enlarged portion 30 of the sleeve II also serves as a means for properly centering the filter element withrespect to the flange 9.

It 'will be apparent that the filter element 29 will also be effective to control the rate of flow of liquid through the receptacle 5. The filter element 29' is held in position against the flange 9 by the-weight of the coffee and by a suction effect which is produced by the liquid flowing through the perforations in the annular flange 9.

In order to ejectcofiee grounds from the particular unit illustrated in Figure 2, the unit is removed from the pot l and a downward force is imparted to the basket 5 and an upward force is imparted to the'tube 3. Such force will cause the split ring 2i to be cammed out of the groove l9 so as to be completely positioned in the groove 20, to permit sliding movement of the receptacle 5 to the position illustrated in Figure 3. An abutment 3| is provided on the tube 3 for limiting downward movement of the receptacle 5. As downward movement is imparted to the receptacle 5, it will be apparent that the position of 5 basket 5 is provided the flange 9 with respect to. the receptacle 5 will berelatively changed until the flange 9 will be completely positioned out of the receptacle 5. In such position, the coifee grounds above the flange 9 will be readily accessible and easily removed therefrom. .After removal of the coffee grounds from the flange 9, it is merely necessary to slide the receptacle 5 upwardto the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, and as such position is reached, the locking ring 2| will engage. in the groove 19 to releasably hold the receptacle 5 in its normal The rate of flow or percolation will also be.

, upwardly out of the locking slot 25.

merely necessary to grasp the projecting portion I24 and pull the sleeve ll upwardly with respect to the tube 3. Such force will cause thering II to be cammed outwardly from the groove 22 into operative position until such time as it is desired to again remove coifee grounds from the receptacle 5. i

The locking ring 2| cooperating with the grooves 22 and 23 permits similar sliding movement of the sleeve ii and flange l with respect to the tube 3 to allow theremoval of the sleeve I I.

and flange 9 from the tube To effect such removal, it is first necessary to turn'the sleeve ll topermit the pin 24 to move It is then tacle 5 relative to the flange resting on the bottom of the receptacle 5; 7

Since hotwater in passing over the-distributor plate 21 may produce an air look within the basket 5 and disturb proper drainage of'the basket, openings 3| are provided in the upper part of the side wall of the basket 5. The openings 3| also provide an overflow in the event that the filter 29 becomes clogged and prevents drainage through the'bottom of the basket.

Having thus describednrvinvention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is; 1. In a coffee percolator having a central perco lator tube, a coffee receptacle mounted ad-' iacent the upper end of said tube and forming an annular space about said tube for the reception of coffee grounds, an annular flange surrounding said tube and covering the bottom of said receptacle, means securing said flange to said tube, and means releasably securing said receptacle to said tube, said receptacle being slidably movable with respect to said tube on release of said releasable securing means to cause movement of said flange out of said receptacle to eject cofleev grounds therefrom when said receptacleis' moved relative to said tube 4. In a coffee peroolator having a central per colator tube,- a coffee receptacle mounted adjacent the upper end of said tube and forming an annular space about said tube for the reception of coflee grounds, a perforated annular flange surrounding said tube and covering the bottom of said receptacle, a sleeve formed integrally with the inner edge of said annular flange,

means preventing downward movement of said sleeve and flange relative to said tube, a sleeve integrally secured to the bottom of said receptacleand provided with a circumferential groove surrounding saidtube, said tube being provided with a circumferential groove facing said first named groove 'when said receptacle is in a normal position, with said flange adjacent the bottom of said receptacle, and means releasably securing said receptacle in said normal position comprising a split resilient ring lying partially in each of said grooves, said ring being movable completely into one of said grooves to, release said receptacle for sliding movement away from said flange to eject cofiee grounds from said receptacle.

5. In a coffee percolator having a central percolator tube, a coffee receptacle mounted adcolator tube, acoifee receptacle mounted adiacent the upper end of said tube and forming an annular space about said tube for the reception of coffee grounds, a perforated annular flange surrounding said tube and covering the bottom of saidreceptacle, for supporting on the upper side of said flange the entire body of coffee grounds received in said receptacle, a plurality of members depending from saidfiangeand engaging the bottom ofsaid receptacle to space said flange therefrom and to permit drainage of liquid through the bottom of said receptacle, a sleeve formed integrallywith the inner edge of said v an-- nular flange and releasably secured to the tube for sliding movement relative thereto upon release therefrom, and a handle member formed on the upper ,end'of said sleeve at a point above the level of coffee grounds received in said receptacle and providing a manual grip for withdrawing said flange and coifee grounds from said receptacle.

2. A percolator as claimed in claim 1, in combie the perforations in said filter element being of a size to permit passage of liquid therethrough while" preventing entry of coifee grounds there"- .nationwith an annular perforated filter element supportedby the upper surface of said flange,

mm, said sleeve being further provided with a projecting portion providing a circular ledge against which the inner edge of said annular filter element may abut, the central opening in said filter element being of sumcient size to permit the passage of said handle member there-i through.

3. In a coffee percolator having a central per- Jacent the upper end of said tube and forming an annular space about said tube for the' 'reception of coffee grounds, a perforated annular flange surrounding said tube and covering the bottom of said receptacle, a sleeve formed intesrally with the inner edge of said annular fiange and provided with a circumferential groove facing said tube, said tube being provided'with a circumferential groove'facing said first named groove, a split resilient ring normally lying partiallyin both of said grooves to hold said sleeve and flange in a fixed position and movable completely into one of said grooves to permit removalo of said sleeve and flange from said tube, a sleeve integrally secured to the bottom of said receptacle and provided with a third circumferential groove facing said tube, said tube being provided with a second circumferential groove facing said third circumferential groove when said receptacle is in a normal position with said flange adjacent the bottom, of said receptacle, and means releasably securing said receptacle to said tube comprising a split resilient ring lying partially in each of said two last mentioned grooves and movable completely into one of said second or third grooves to release said receptacle for sliding movement away from said flange to eject coffee grounds from said receptacle.

6. In a coffee percolator having a central percolator tube, a coffee receptacle mounted adjacent the upper end of said tube and forming an annular space about said tube for the reception of coffee grounds, and means for removing coflee grounds "from said receptacle comprising a con-' tractable and expansible member s'itibstantiallvcovering the bottom of said receptacle and adjustable to different positions to fit various size receptacles, and a carrier member connected to said contractable and expansible member and extending upwardly to a position adjacent the top of said tube by which said adjustable member maybe withdrawn from said receptacle to remove coffee grounds therefrom.

surrounding said tube, a plurality of resilient members secured to said sleeve and angularly inclined outwardly therefrom, lifting; members secured to the bottom of said resilient members and adapted to occupy positions substantially covering vthe bottom of said receptable, said resilient members and liftingmembers being adjustable to'diflerent positions to fit within receptacles of various sizes.

8. In a cofiee percolator having a central percolator tube, a coffee receptacle element mounted upon said tube and forming an annular space about said tube for the reception of coflee grounds, an ejector element normally occupying a position adjacent the bottom of said receptacle, and means releasably securing said elements to said tube, said elements 'being'slidably movable with respect to said tube on release of their re- 'spective securing means to cause movement of said, ejector out of said receptacle to eject coflee grounds therefrom when either of said elements is moved relative to the other and to the tube.

9. In a coifee maker, a liquid container, a coftor element normally occupying a position adjacent the bottom of said receptacle, and means releasably securing said elements and said receptacle against relative movement, said element and said receptacle being relatively movable upon release of said securing means to cause movement of said flange out of said receptacle to eject.

cofl'ee grounds therefrom.

10. In a coffee maker having a central percolator tube, a coffee receptacle element mounted upon said tube and forming an annular space about said tube for the reception of coffee grounds, an ejector element normally occupying fee grounds receptacle mounted therein, an ejeca position adjacent the bottom of said receptacle,

.means for securing one of said elements to said tube, and means for releasably securing the other of said elements to said tube, said last means being operable to permit sliding movement of said other element relative to said one element and relative to said tube upon application of opposite forces to said element and to said tube'whereby to cause movement of said ejector out of said receptacle to eject coffee grounds therefrom.

11. In a coffee maker, a coffee grounds receptacle having a central opening in the bottom thereof, a circular coffee ground supporting member normally occupying a; position adjacent to bottom of said receptacle, and an element secured to said member and having a portion extending through said opening, said portion being engageable by the hand of a user to cause movement of said member relative to said receptacle for ejecting coffee grounds therefrom upon application ofopposite forces to said receptacle and said element. A

J OSEPH MCMENAMIN. 

